Thursday, 27 MayOn Thursday 27 May 2010 an event celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) was co-hosted at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, Uruguay, by the GEF and the Uruguayan Council for International Relations (CURI).

Wednesday,26 MayThe Fourth Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Assembly convened in the morning in a series of side-events, and in plenary in the afternoon. President José Mujica of Uruguay addressed the plenary, after which constituencies continued presenting their respective positions. Delegates also discussed on the acceptance of Kosovo as a GEF member, adopted a proposal of Amendment to the Instrument for the Establishment of the Restructured GEF and took note of several reports.

José Mujica, President of Uruguay

José Mujica, President of Uruguay, and Graciela Muslera, Minister of Environment, Uruguay, and Chair of the fourth GEF Assembly

Asa Adrae, Sweden

Vanesa Alvarez Franco, Spain

Igor Zotov, Russia

Tuesday,25 MayThe Fourth Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly opened in the morning of 25 May 2010, at the Conrad Hotel, in Punta del Este, Uruguay. During the morning high-level officials and representatives from the 32 GEF constituencies addressed the Assembly. In the afternoon six, roundtable discussions were held on the issues of country ownership over GEF projects and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the GEF.

Danilo Astori, Vice President of Uruguay

Danilo Astori, Vice President of Uruguay and Monique Barbut, GEF CEO and Chairperson

Inger Andersen, incoming World Bank Vice-President for Sustainable Development

Monday,24 May Civil Society Forum was held on Monday 24 May, featuring a series of panels on: the role of civil society in safeguarding the global environment; local and indigenous communities as guardians of the environment; Latin American experiences with GEF projects; and enhancing partnership with civil society in the Fifth GEF Replenishment (GEF–5). The GEF Council also met in a closed meeting during the morning and endorsed the results of the Fifth GEF Replenishment.